Night Skiing Opening - 2020/21
Powder by Night – Niseko Night Skiing
Evenings in Niseko just got even more exciting with the opening of night skiing from this Saturday!
Niseko United has one of the largest night skiing areas in Japan making its powder snow even more enjoyable.
Night skiing in Niseko is one of the top recommended activities, so make sure to try it during your visit.
Niseko United will be opening for Night Skiing for the 2020/21 winter season Saturday the 19th of December and will run until the 7th of March 2021.
Annupuri, Niseko Village, and Grand Hirafu will each be open until 8 pm.
- Night Ski Open: 19 December 2020
- Night Ski Closes: 7 March 2021
- Open until: 8 pm each night
Complete your night by visiting Niseko’s many famous bars and restaurants.
Check out the GoTo Niseko Guide for the best places to drink and eat.
Holiday Feast with Hokkaido Tracks and Haku Life
Christmas and New Years Done Right!
Stunning meals prepared and delivered for the best holiday celebration ever!
Hokkaido Tracks and Haku Life have teamed up to offer a special Christmas dinner catering and delivery service and New Years Dinner delivery service for up to 20 orders per day.
The generous Christmas menu features holiday classics including glazed ham, roast turkey, and a Christmas Log for dessert.
The elegant New Years’ menu includes hero dishes such as Slow-Roasted Strip Loin, Baby Back Ribs and includes two free bottles of wine to help get the New Years’ celebration started.
If you’d like to book the Christmas meals, make sure to make your reservation before December 21 so you don’t miss out.
Reservations for New Year’s are advised before December 28th to avoid disappointment.
To make your booking, email the H2 group at [email protected].
Check out the full menu below.
Christmas Menu
New Years Menu
Niseko Area Circuit Bus 2020-21
The Niseko Area Circuit Bus timetable has been released for the 2020-21 winter season.
The bus will make stops between Niseko JR Station, the Hilton in Niseko Village, Niseko Annupuri Ski Resort, Konbu Onsen, and Moiwa.
A number of stops are only available on weekends and holidays so make sure to check the full bus schedule for details.
Services will start from 19 December 2020 and run until 28 February 2021 and will cost just ¥500.
Download the full bus schedule HERE.
Pow Bar Creates Special Christmas Panettone
Christmas Special Panettone
The Pow Bar is creating a Christmas special Panettone cake for this holiday period.
Panettone is a special Italian cake enjoyed around Christmas and New Year. The POW BAR special panettone is using lots of organic fruits soaked in fragrant rum and white wine.
It is rich and fluffy without egg and butter. When you cut into this cake, you will smell the delicious ingredients immediately.
Pow Bar is sure that guests will enjoy this cake with friends and family during the holiday season this year.
・Price: ¥3400 (includes tax) /1 (diameter 134mm, height130mm - Sizes will vary slightly.）
・How to keep: If not eating immediately, keep sealed and at room temperature.
・Best before: ２weeks
・Ingredients: Hokkaido flour, soy milk, coconut oil, beetroot sugar, California raisin, Australian sultana raisin, sun muscat raisin, lemon peel, orange peel, rum, white wine, panettone yeast, vanilla beans,salt.
・How to eat: 2-3 days after made it will still be fluffy, so eat as is. After 3 days, heat up slices in a toaster oven and add butter or coconut oil to taste a different texture.
Bookings between: 11/22 (Sun) - 12/15 (Tue)
Pickup: Either 12/18 (Fri), 19 (Sat), 20 (Sat)
Payment：When you book or pickup
How to book: SNS (Instagram, Facebook), CAFE, DM
Email: [email protected]
Please provide: Name, Phone number, How many, Pickup date
Niseko Featured in Ho Magazine
Popular travel and tourism publication "Ho Magazine" has featured Niseko resort area over a two-page spread in their latest issue.
Ho Magazine is Hokkaido's most popular travel and tourism magazine with 80,000 copies distributed around Hokkaido.
The story features a number of local restaurants including, "Harvest Cafe", "Bistro Re Arbor", and "Black Wood Grill".
Luxury hotel "The Vale", located in Hirafu received a full page feature, with a focus on its stunning onsen
Another of Niseko's prominent hotels, "Hilton Niseko" in Niseko Village was also featured with a view across its beautiful outdoor onsen.
Ho Magazine can be found at most book and magazine stores throughout Hokkaido.
This feature was organized by Niseko Tourism.
Niseko Featured in HAC Magazine
The resort area of Niseko has been featured in the in-flight magazine "HAC Magazine", which is produced and published for JAL's "Hokkaido Air System".
HAC Magazine provides travellers with interesting and inspiring tourism information about destinations in Northern Japan.
The November / December issue of HAC Magazine features the Niseko area on the cover with views of the iconic Mt. Yotei.
The main feature article of this issue focuses on adventures in Niseko, and features Hokkaido based blogger "Kou Seiyu", who visited Niseko during Summer and Autumn.
The story features a number of local businesses who have worked closely with Niseko Tourism.
- Popular restaurant "Bang Bang"
- The Vale - managed by NISADE
- Muse - managed by Vacation Niseko
- Natural Mud Onsen - Tour provided by Bouken Kozaku
- Niseko Autumn Food Festival
All images were shot by Niseko Tourism.
Park Hyatt Hanazono - Dim Sum Brunch
China Kitchen at Park Hyatt Hanazono will be opening each Saturday and Sunday for Chinese Dim Sum Brunch.
Experience the very best of China’s rich culinary heritage right here in Niseko.
- Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono
- Hotel Lobby Floor
- 11.30am – 2:00pm every Saturday and Sunday
Make the most of your weekend and enjoy a variety of authentic Chinese dim sum dishes that are sure to satisfy.
Contact the Parky Hyatt Hanazono team to reserve and get your culinary adventure underway.
Reservations:
Phone: 0136-27-1234
Park Hyatt Hanazono
The Hashtag is Back – #NisekoShootout Launching 5 December, 2020
Enter your photos, or just enjoy the entries!
Get ready to enter your photos or just enjoy the entries – Niseko’s Instagram-based winter-long photography competition is back for the 2020-21 season.
Any photo hashtagged #nisekoshootout is in the running!
Niseko Shootout is the region’s official photo contest, presented by Niseko Tourism with support from Niseko United Ski Resort, Powderlife Magazine, Gentemstick, Roko Skis, Rhythm Japan and more.
The search is on for this season’s most uniquely Niseko moments – and it’s up to you to display what they are via the lens of your DSLR or smart phone.
Photos are judged in three categories:
1) Skiing
2) Snowboard
3) Landscape
Rules
Post on Instagram and use hashtag #nisekoshootout on any of your photos taken in the Niseko area starting 5 December 2020 until 1 March 2021.
That’s it! You’ll be entered for a shot at one of the prizes from our sponsors listed below.
Additionally, the team at Powderlife will pick a shot from #nisekoshootout to be published in next winter’s issue of mag – this winter’s cover photo was a #nisekoshootout entry!
Follow @nisekoshootout to see your shots featured throughout the season and get an idea of what we’re looking for.
*Please don't use carousel to show multiple pictures – post each entry individually.
*The winner will always be the photographer, even if the rider posted it.
*Winners can pick up prizes in Niseko or organise and pay for shipping.
NOTE:
You must HASHTAG, not @TAG, to enter. Ie photos tagged @nisekoshootout only aren't entered – only photos hashtagged #nisekoshootout are eligible to win.
Prizes
Major prizes this year include a Gentemstick Snowboard, Roko Skis and a Niseko United Season Pass.
| SKI | SNOWBOARD | LANDSCAPE |
|---|---|---|
| 1st place: Roko Skis | 1st place: Gentemstick Snowboard | 1st place: Niseko United Season Pass |
| 2nd place: Iwanai Cat Tour | 2nd place: Rhythm Japan + Oyuki prize pac | 2nd place: Yama Plus prize pack |
| 3rd place: Icelantic prize pack | 3rd place: Boot Solutions prize pack | 3rd place: Niseko 343 prize pack |
Images above featuring 2019-20 Niseko Shootout ProAM Judge's Choice Winner
Photographer: Tanner Dobbins
Athlete: Ryu Atobe
Caption: "Bad snow conditions' in Niseko featuring Mt Yotei"
ALSO Enter the ProAm & Film Festival
The Shootout has grown to incorporate two major events through the season:
•The Niseko Shootout ProAm runs from 7 to 10 January, 2021 and is a photo contest in which athlete-photographer teams (professional and amateur alike) enter the best image they capture within a four-day window. In the past pro and Olympic athletes including Torah Bright, Pep Fujas and Chris Benchetler have taken part. Check HERE for last year's info. This year's contest details will be shared shortly.
• The Niseko Shootout Film Festival on March 13, 2021 showcases the best Niseko-themed short films made within the previous 15 months. Held towards the end of winter, the Short Film Festival acts as the Shootout. Find out last year's amazing works and winner HERE. More contest details will be announced soon.
Thank you to all our sponsors:
Niseko United, Roko Skis, Gentemstick, Iwanai Resort, Rhythm Japan, Oyuki, Yama Plus, Icelantic Skis, Boot Solutions & Niseko 343
Media partner: Powderlife Magazine
Hirafu Parking Updates 2020/21
Hirafu Parking Updates for 2020/21 Winter
Parking is limited in Hirafu, particularly during the busy winter season.
Kutchan Town has provided the following information and rules to help ensure safety and the smooth operation of traffic.
Public parking in the Niseko Hirafu area
- No parking overnight in the public parking lot due to snow removal.
- When you park overnight, your car will be stuck in the snow and it will be extremely difficult to move.
- If you are staying at a hotel or condominium, park in the provided parking lot of each accommodation at night.
- Street parking is a hindrance to pedestrians and is a cause of traffic problems. Hirafu-zaka St. has a steep slope, so parking and stopping are prohibited.
- In winter, street parking is tightly controlled, and local authorities will be patrolling the area.
Hirafu Parking Lot #1
Access to the pick-up and drop-off area near the Welcome Center is one-way only.
- Follow the instructions of the parking staff in Hirafu Parking lot #1.
- Do not park overnight. If you do, your car will be stuck in the snow and will be extremely difficult to move.
- Clearly display the name of the company on service vehicles.
- Hirafu Parking lot #1 is for National park use such as visiting the ski resort. Employees working in the Hirafu area should park at the office parking lot or the Sun Sports Land temporary parking lot.
- Don’t park on Hirafu-zaka St. for a long time because it will interfere with other cars and pedestrians.
Sun Sports Land Temporary Parking Lot
- Available Period: From Mid December to Mid March 2020.
- Available Hours: 8am-12am (No parking is allowed from 12am to 8am.)
- Eligible Users: Anybody needs to park
- Do not leave your car parked overnight. If you do, your car will be stuck in the snow and will be extremely difficult to move.
- The parking space directly in front of Sun Sports Land building is only for visitors to Sun Sports Land.
Hirafu Police Box Parking
- Hirafu Police Box Parking can only be used temporarily as a pick-up location. Do not park here.
- If there is an emergency vehicle, give priority to that emergency vehicle.
- Never park and stop on Hirafu-zaka St. because it will cause traffic problems.
- Do not leave your car parked overnight. If you do, your car will be stuck in the snow and will be extremely difficult to move.
Announced by Kutchan Police Station, Kutchan Tourism Association, Niseko Hirafu Area Management, Niseko Hirafu Neighbourhood Watch, Kutchan Town Office Tourism Division
Introducing Rakusuisan Niseko
Shin Nihonkai Ferry Group's Authent Hotels Co., Ltd. is opening a new Ryokan named "Niseko Kabayama no Sato Rakusuisan", located in Kutchan-cho, Hokkaido featuring 18 rooms.
The accommodation is a wooden, one-story structure, all rooms overlook Mt. Yotei, and all 18 rooms are separated by a corridor.
All rooms are equipped with an open-air bath that uses naturally flowing water, providing guests with a private relaxation experience complete with a comfortable Japanese style space built using wood from Hokkaido.
"Rakusuisan" is located between Niseko Grand Hirafu and Higashiyama Niseko Village Ski Resort. It is a quiet area with beautiful natural surroundings overlooking Mt. Yotei.
The dishes at Rakusuisan are created using freshly picked ingredients sourced from the land and sea of Hokkaido, with the menu being decided each day by the chefs.
There are 3 restaurants with counter seats where guests can enjoy teppanyaki, sushi, and tempura.
Rakusuisan aims to be a comfortable place that can be enjoyed by long-term residents, who relish the charm of Niseko each season in the foothills of the mountains.
In addition, there are common spaces, a fitness gym, and a day spa, facilities to dry ski equipment and locker rooms.
【Facility outline】
Facility name: Niseko Kabayama no Sato Rakusui-san
Location: Kabayama, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
Number of guest rooms: 18 rooms (13 Western-style rooms 75㎡, 5 tatami mats and 5 Western-style rooms 95㎡)
Source name: Kabayama Onsen Annupuri no Yu
Spring quality: Sodium-chloride / hydrogen carbonate hot spring
Opening date: December 1, 2020
Price: Winter season per person, 1 night with breakfast
From 110,000 yen (service charge included, tax not included)
According to Metro Engine Research, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido has 290 accommodations and 4,011 rooms. There are 6 facilities scheduled to open, and 627 new rooms are expected to be supplied.
